Opens a tty port, prompts for a login name and invokes the '/bin/login' command.

It is normally invoked by 'init' via /etc/inittab entry(s) or /etc/init.d/<script>.

Program

Description

agetty

Is the third variation of getty - alternative linux getty

getty_ps

Two getties. getty is used for console, and terminal devices - uugetty is used for modems

mgetty

In addition to allowing logins, mgetty also provides class 2 FAX support through sendfax

Command usage

agetty [options] port baud_rate ... [term]
agetty [options] baud_rate ... port [term]
Some options:
-8 Assume that the tty is 8-bit clean, hence disable parity
detection.
-h Enable hardware (RTS/CTS) flow control. It is left up to
the application to disable software (XON/XOFF) flow protocol
where appropriate.
-i Do not display the contents of /etc/issue (or other) before
writing the login prompt. Some hardware may become confused
if a lot of text is received at the wrong baud rate. Dial-up
scripts may fail if the login prompt is preceded by too much text.
-m Try to extract the baud rate the CONNECT status message produced
by Hayes(tm)-compatible modems.
-n Do not prompt the user for a login name. This can be used in
connection with -l option to invoke a non-standard login process
such as a BBS system.

See man page for more options and explanations.

Man pages /etc/inittab entry examples

# For a hard-wired line or a console tty
/sbin/agetty 9600 ttyS1
# For a directly connected terminal without proper carriage detect wiring:
# (try if your terminal just sleeps instead of giving you a password: prompt.)
/sbin/agetty -L 9600 ttyS1 vt100
# For a old style dial-in line with a 9600/2400/1200 baud modem:
/sbin/agetty -mt60 ttyS1 9600,2400,1200
# For a Hayes modem with a fixed 115200 bps interface to the machine
# (the example init string turns off modem echo and result codes, makes
# modem/computer DCD track modem/modem DCD, makes a DTR drop cause a
# disconnection and turn on auto-answer after 1 ring.)
/sbin/agetty -w -I ATE0Q1&amp;D2&amp;C1S0=1\015 115200 ttyS1